Folding carton and blank therefor

ABSTRACT

A carton blank and a carton formed therefrom, said carton having a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side wall panels and a pair of top wall panels. A folding double handle having a U-shaped opening therein extends from one of said top wall panels. The other top wall panel overlaps and is secured to said one top panel and is provided with a recess for receiving the handle. A tongue extending from the base of the recess overlaps tongues extending from each side of the base of the handle. The end of a handle element in one carton blank nests within the recess in the top panel of another blank to conserve material when forming a plurality of blanks from a paperboard sheet.

United States Patent 1191 Malinowski Feb. 5', 1974 [54] FOLDING CARTONAND BLANK 2,691,471 10/1954 Forrer 229/52 B x THEREFOR 2,805,813 9/ l957Rittmueller 229/52 B 3,417,911 12/1968 Hennessey 229/52 B X [75]Inventor: Edward Stephen Malm ws 3,469,736 9/1969 Walker 229/52 B xYorkville, Ill. [73] Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation, PrimaryExamine"'Davls Moorhead 9 Portland, Oreg.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled' 1972 A carton blank and a carton formedtherefrom, said [21] Appl. N01: 238,556 carton having a bottom wall, apair of opposed side wall panels and a pair of top wall panels. Afolding double handle having a U-shaped opening therein ex- [52] U.S Cl229/52 B tends from one of Said top wall panels The other top [51] Int.Cl B65d 5/46 wall and overla s and is Secured to said one p 58 Field ofSearch 229/52 B, 54 P P panel and is provided w1th a recess forreceiving the [561 22:33:,114261152211265252:6:112:16?

UNITED STATES PATENTS base of the handle. The end of a handle element in2,806,643 9/1957 Yxeiss 229/52 B one arton blank nests within the recessin the top panel of another blank to conserve material when 31416171912/1968 forming a plurality of blanks from a paperboard sheet. 3,404,80610/1968 14 Claims; 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU FEB 51974 FIG. I

. 1 FOLDING CARTON AND BLANK THEREFOR I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates generally. to foldingcartons made from a one piece paperboard blank and more particularly tofolding cartons having an integral folding double handle.

2. Description of the Prior Art While various prior art folding cartonshave heretofore been known having integral handles and formed from a onepiece blank, such prior art cartons have suffered from manydisadvantages. Many of such prior art cartons have been complicated inconstruction and therefore difficult to glue and fold. Other such priorart folding cartons .have had integral handles which have been weak andtear easily. Still other prior art folding cartons have been formed fromblanks which waste a lot of material-when forming the blanks from asheet of suitable material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the objects of the present invention isto avoid the disadvantages of prior art folding cartons enumeratedabove. Another object of the present invention is to providea blank fora folding carton which may be cut from a sheet of suitable material inconjunction with a plurality of other blanks in such a manner as toconserve the sheet material from which the blank is formed. A furtherobject of the invention 'is to provide a blank for forming a foldingcarton wherein the handle portion of one blank nests within a panelportion of the next succeeding blank to conserve sheet material informing the blanks. Still another object of the present invention is toprovide a folding carton having an integral folded handle structurewhich possesses considerable strength and great resistance to the handletearing from the remainder of the carton. Another object of theinvention is to provide a folding paperboard carton that may be veryeasily processed through production due to its simplicity in style offolding and glueing A still further object of the invention is toprovide a folding carton adapted for folding between a collapsedposition for shipping or storage and an erect position for'filling withan end product.

According to the present invention, there is provided a blank for acarton comprising a first top wall panel,

a first side wall panel, a bottom wall panel, a second side wall paneland a second top wall panel connected together in seriatim along theiradjacent edges. The first top wall panel has a recess formed in its freeedge while a handle is formed in the second top wall panel and extendsinwardly therefrom. An auxiliary handle panel connected to the handlehas its' free end with a configuration which is adapted to fit or nestinside of the recess in the first top wall panel whereby duringmanufacture of a plurality of blanks from a sheet of material the freeend of thehandle panel of one blank nests in the recess of the first topwall panel of another blank.

A carton formed from the blank comprises a bottom wall panel, a pair ofopposed side wall panels extending upwardly from the bottom wall panel,and a pair of top wall panels extending inwardly from the side wallpanels. A first handle element is formed in one of the top wall panelsand is integrally attached at its base to the top wall panel. A firsttongue extends from the base of said first handle element. A secondhandle element is folded over on the first handle element and isprovided at its base with a second tongue which extends through anopening in the first handle element and overlaps and is secured to thefirst tongue. The other top wall panel overlaps and is secured to theone top panel and is provided with a third tongue overlapping the firstand second tongues. A flap integrally connected to the base of thesecond handle element is secured to and underlies the other top wallpanel. The other top wall panel further defines a recess on its freeedge in which the handle elements are received. Cuts are provided at thebase of both the handle elements to prevent tearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ings which follow wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to thepresent invention showing the location of the glue strips;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the end of handle portion of one blanknested within a recess in a top wall panel portion'of another blank;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an erected carton constructed accordingto the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, there is shownin FIG. 1 a carton blank 10 according to the present inventioncomprising in 'seriatim from bottom to top, a first top wall panel 11,first side wall panel 12., bottom wall panel 13, second side wall panel14 and second top wall panelxl5; These panels are integrally connectedtogether along fold lines l6, 17, 18 and I9 as shown in FIG. 1. Whenthese panels are folded and'secured together in a manner described morefully hereinafter, they form a tubular sleeve or body which may befolded between a collapsed position for shipping or storage and'anerected position for filling.

End closure flaps 22, 23, 24 and 25 are provided on each end ofpanels-l2, l3, l4 and 15 which constitute end wall forming means forclosing the ends of a carton formed from the blank'l0 if desired. Theend closure flaps are integrally connected to the panels along foldlines 26 and 27. End closure flaps 23 are each provided with a raised orembossed square portion 28 centrally located of the flapsalong foldlines 26 and 27 Similar raised or embossedsquares 29 are centrallylocated on end closure flaps 25 along fold lines 26 and 27. End closureflaps 2,4 are provided with a cutout portion or notch 30 on each outercorner. When the carton is erected from the blank 10 to the closedposition as shown in FIG. 3, the flaps 23 and 25 are folded in firstwhereupon the flaps 24 are then folded over the flaps 23 and 25 so thatthe notches 30 fit around each of the a tight seal of all the endclosure flaps forming the end walls of the carton.

The second side wall panel 14 may be provided with an access flap 20formed by a generally U-shaped perforated tear line 21. A finger tap 31may be provided at the top center of the access flap 20 to facilitatetearing open the flap.

Referring back to the carton blank shown in FIG. 1, second top wallpanel has a first handle element 32 formed therein and extendinginwardly from the free edge of the panel. Handle element 32 is definedat its outside ends by cut lines 33. Partial loop cuts 34 which extendfrom cut lines 33 outwardly towards the outside ends of panel 15 areprovided at the bottom of cut lines 33. A pair of spaced generallyU-shaped cut lines 35 are provided in the interior of handle element 32and have an additional cut line 36 extending therebetween to define atongue 37 and a hand hole flap 38. The inner end of U-shaped cut lines35 is in the form of a partial loop cut 41 which extends from theoutside end of tongue 37 inwardly towards the center of the tongue 37.The cut lines 33 and 35 thus define a pair of handle straps 39integrally attached at their base to panel 15 along fold lines 40. Itwill be noted that tongue 37 extends from the base of handle element 32towards the free edge of panel 15 and in effect-constitutes an extensionof panel 15.

lntegrally connected to the outer edge of panel element 32 along foldline 42 is an auxiliary handle panel 43. Handle panel 43 is comprised ofa handle element or section 44 and a reinforcing flap or section 45integrally connected to handle element 44 along fold line 46. Handleelement 44 is provided with a pair of spaced generally U-shaped cuts 47on the interior thereof connected by a straight cut line 48 whichtogether define a tongue 49 and a hand hole-flap 50. Cut lines 47 and47A further define a pair of handle straps 57 which mate with straps 39.The portions of cut lines 47 at the base of handle element 44 are in theform of partial loop cuts 51 extending towards the center of the handleelement 44. Tongue 49 forms an inwardly extending continuation of flap45, The outer edge of reinforcing flap 45 of auxiliary handle panel 43is provided with an inwardly extending recess 52.

The first top wall panel 11 also is provided with a central recess 53extending inwardly from the free edge of the panel. Recess 53 isprovided with a central tongue 54 extending outwardly from the base ofthe recess. Tongue 54 further defines a pair of notches 55 at the endsof the recess 53 for receiving the straps of the carton handle when thecarton is formed. The recess 53 further defines a pair of tabs 56 ateither end of panel 1 1 which are of substantially the same width as thesecond top wall panel 15.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be observed that flap 45 of auxiliaryhandle panel 43 of one blank is nested with the recess 53 of top wallpanel 11 of a preceeding blank when forming a plurality of carton blanks10 from a single sheet of suitable material such as paperboard. Thus, informing the blanks from a single sheet of paperboard material, the samecutting operation which forms tongue 54 in panel 11 of one blank formsrecess 52 in the end of reinforcing flap 45 of a succeeding blank. Bynesting a portion of'one blank within a cutout portion of a preceedingblank, a great savings in sheet material is thus achieved since there isless scrap material resulting from the blank forming operation.

An important feature of the carton according to the present invention isthat the blank as just described ton.

may be folded and glued into a completed carton using a minimum numberof folding and glueing operations. As shown in FIG. I, it is onlynecessary to provide three glue lines on the entire carton blank 10. Thefirst top wall panel 11 is provided with a first glue strip 60 on theinside at the outer edges of each tab 56 and a second glue line 61 isprovided across a center portion of top wall panel 11 at the base of therecess 53. Finally, a third glue strip 62 is provided across the base onthe inside of handle element 44 of the auxiliary handle panel 43 in sucha manner that the glue extends across the tongue 49 of the handleelement.

The glue strips are applied to the carton blank during the foldingoperation after the blank has first been formed from the sheet ofpaperboard material as will be explained hereinafter. It will further benoted that the location of each glue stripis such that the glue extendsall the way across the particular portion or panel of the carton uponwhich it is located. This is extremely advantageous in that iteliminates the necessity for precise timing and the complicatedmachinery and other operations necessary for spot glueing. Thus, thecarton blank of the present invention may be glued in a simple manner onstandard straight line glue equipment.

When constructing a completed carton from a blank formed as describedabove, the carton is initially formed into an open ended tube or sleevewhich may be collapsed into a folded flat position for shipping orstorage. The folding and glueing operation to form a completed cartonsuch as that shown in FIG. 3 may be described with respect to the cartonblank shown in FIG. 1 which is a view looking at the inside of the car-Initially, second top wall panel 15 is folded over l to lie flat againstthe inside of panel 14. During this process, however, handle element 32and auxiliary handle panel 43 are held back so that the inside of theelement and the handle panel remain exposed and lay extended outwardly.At this point, glue strip 62 is applied to the inside base portion andtongue 49 of handle element 44 of the auxiliary handle panel. Auxiliaryhandle panel 43 is then folded over so that its inside is in face-tofacecontact with and secured to the inside of handle element 32. Thus, thebase of handle element 44 is adhesively secured to the base of thehandle element 32 and tongue 49 is adhesively secured to tongue 37.

In the next operation, the two strips of glue 60 and 61 are then appliedto the first top wall panel 1 1, and first side wall panel 12 and topwall panel 11 are then folded over 180 whereby panel 12 is foldedcompletely over bottom wall panel 13 and partially over the second sidewall panel 14. In the same folding operation, the top wall panel 11, atcompletion of the 180 fold, then overlaps the outside face of top wallpanel 15 whereby the inside of tongue 54 of panel 11 overlaps theoutside face of tongue 49. In this position, the glue strips 60 and 61adhesively secure the top wall panel 11 to the second top wall panel 15.Upon completion of the latter folding operation, the carton is then inthe position of a collapsed tube with the integral folded over handlelying flat against the outer surface of the second top wall panel 15. A

Normally, cartons formed as described above are shipped and stored in anopen end collapsed position. When it is desired to fill the carton, thecollapsed tube is then erected, the inside of the carton is filled andthe end closure flaps folded over and secured by suitable means such asglueing to close the carton. An erected closed carton 70 is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 4,-the handle 71 of the carton may be folded from acollapsed position flat against the top of the carton to an erectedposition where it is perpendicular to the top of the carton. The flaps38 and 50 may be bent to one side to form a hand carrying hole in thehandle. it will further be noted that the box in the portion underneaththe handle has at least three layers of paperboard material, thuscontributing greatly to the overall strength of the carton anddiminishing the chances of the handle 71 tearing loose from the carton70 when the carton is loaded. Moreover, the partial loop cuts at thebase of both of the handle elements 32 and 44 tend to give a springaction to the base of the handle when the carton is being carried tomake it easier for the carton to withstand bumps and jars and thereforeguard against the handle tearing. Moreover, the double top panels 11 and15 of the carton, by being glued together, add strength which preventsbuckling of the carton.

The carton may be used to package any desired material such as food, orarticles of manufacture which may be loaded through an open end of thecarton.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described withreference to a specific embodiment, it will be understood that variousmodifications may be made by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention which is defined solely bythe. appended claims.

I claim:

l. A blank for a carton comprising a first top wall panel, a first sidewall panel, a bottom wall panel, a second side wall panel, a second topwall panel,

said panels being connected together,

said first top wall panel having a recess extending in from its freeedge,

a handle formed in said second top wall panel and extending inwardlyfrom the free edge thereof, and an auxiliary handle panel connected tosaid handle,

the free end ,of said auxiliary handle panel having a configurationadapted to fit inside of said recess in said first top wall panelwhereby during manufacture of aplurality of said blanks from a singlesheet the free end of the handle panel of one blank nests in the recessof the first top wall panel of another blank.

2. A blank for a carton as defined in claim 1 wherein said auxiliaryhandle panel comprises a handle flap and an extended reinforcing flap.

3. A blank for a carton as defined in claim 2 which includes a tongueextending from the base of each of said recess, said handle and saidhandle flap.

4. A blank for a carton as defined in claim 2 which includes cuts at thebase of said handle and said handle flap.

5. A blank for a carton as defined in claim 1 which includes end closureflaps connected to opposite ends of both of said side wall panels, saidbottom wall panel and said second top wall panel.

6. A carton comprising a bottom wall panel,

a pair of opposed side wall panels extending up-.

wardly from said bottom wall panel, a pair of top wall panels extendinginwardly from said side wall panels,

a first handle element formed in one of said top wall panels andintegrallyattached at its base to said one top wall panel,

a first tongue extending from the base of said first handle element,

a second handle element folded over on said first handle element,

a second tongue extending from the base of said second handle elementthrough'an opening in said first handle element and overlapping andsecured to said first tongue, and

the other of said top wall panels overlapping and secured to said onetop panel,

said other top wall panel having a third tongue overlapping said firstand second tongues.

7. A carton as defined in claim 6 which includes a glue strip applied tothe underside of said second handle element and a pair of glue stripsapplied to the underside of said other of said top wall panels.

8. A carton asdefine d in claim 6 which includes a reinforcing flapintegrally connected to the base of said second handle element andsecured to and underlying said other top wall panel.

9. A carton as defined in claim 6 wherein said other top wall paneldefines a recess on its free edge, said third tongue extends centrallyfrom the base of said'recess, and said handle elements are received insaid recess.

10. A carton as defined in claim 9'wherein the end portions of saidother top wall panel overlap substantially the entire width of said onetop wall panel.

11. A carton as defined in claim 6 which includes end closure flapshingedly connected to opposite ends of both of said side wall panels,said bottom wall panel and said one of said top wall panels.

12. A carton as defined in claim 6 which includes cuts at the base ofboth said first and said second handle elements.

13. A blank for a carton as described in claim 5 wherein said endclosure flaps are cut free along two lateral edges and an outer edge andare hingedly connected to said respective, wall panels along the inneredge of each said end closure flap,

said bottom wall panel end closure flaps and said second top wall panelendclosure flaps are each further provided with an embossment disposedcentrally of the lateral edges of said end closure flaps andadjacentsaid hinged connection, and

said second side wall panel end closure flaps are provided with notchescorresponding in size to said embossments and located at each cornerformed by said lateral edges and said outer edges of said second sidewall end closure flaps.

14. A carton as defined in claim 11 wherein said hinged connection isalong the inside edge of,

said closure flaps with the two lateral edges and outside edge beingfree, said bottom wall panel end closure flaps and said top wall panelend closure flaps being provided with outwardly projecting embossmentsdisposed cen-' trally of said lateral edges of said closure flaps andadjacent said hinged connections, and

said second side wall panel end closure flaps are provided with cutoutsat their outer corners, said cutouts corresponding in size and position,when said second side wall panel end flaps are folded in position tosaid embossments whereby, when said second side wall end flaps arefolded over said bottom wall and second top wall end flaps, said cutoutswill partially surround said embossments.

1. A blank for a carton comprising a first top wall panel, a first sidewall panel, a bottom wall panel, a second side wall panel, a second topwall panel, said panels being connected together, said first top wallpanel having a recess extending in from its free edge, a handle formedin said second top wall panel and extending inwardly from the free edgethereof, and an auxiliary handle panel connected to said handle, thefree end of said auxiliary handle panel having a configuration adaptedto fit inside of said recess in said first top wall panel whereby duringmanufacture of a plurality of said blanks from a single sheet the freeend of the handle panel of one blank nests in the recess of the firsttop wall panel of another blank.
 2. A blank for a carton as defined inclaim 1 wherein said auxiliary handle panel comprises a handle flap andan extended reinforcing flap.
 3. A blank for a carton as defined inclaim 2 which includes a tongue extending from the base of each of saidrecess, said handle and said handle flap.
 4. A blank for a carton asdefined in claim 2 which includes cuts at the base of said handle andsaid handle flap.
 5. A blank for a carton as defined in claim 1 whichincludes end closure flaps connected to opposite ends of both of saidside wall panels, said bottom wall panel and said second top wall panel.6. A carton comprising a bottom wall panel, a pair of opposed side wallpanels extending upwardly from said bottom wall panel, a pair of topwall panels extending inwardly from said side wall panels, a firsthandle element formed in one of said top wall panels and integrallyattached at its base to said one top wall panel, a first tongueextending from the base of said first handle element, a second handleelement folded over on said first handle element, a second tongueextending from the base of said second handle element through an openingin said first handle element and overlapping and secured to said firsttongue, and the other of said top wall panels overlapping and secured tosaid one top panel, said other top wall panel having a third tongueoverlapping said first and second tongues.
 7. A carton as defined inclaim 6 which includes a glue strip applied to the underside of saidsecond handle element and a pair of glue strips applied to the undersideof said other of said top wall panels.
 8. A carton as defined in claim 6which includes a reinforcing flap integrally connected to the base ofsaid second handle element and secured to and underlying said other topwall panel.
 9. A carton as defined in claim 6 wherein said other topwall panel defines a recess on its free edge, said third tongue extendscentrally from the base of said recess, and said handle elements arereceived in said recess.
 10. A carton as defined in claim 9 wherein theend portions of said other top wall panel overlap substantially theentire width of said one top wall panel.
 11. A carton as defined inclaim 6 which includes end closure flaps hingedly connected to oppositeends of both of said side wall panels, said bottom wall panel and saidone of said top wall panels.
 12. A carton as defined in claim 6 whichincludes cuts at the base of both said first and said second handleelements.
 13. A blank for a carton as describeD in claim 5 wherein saidend closure flaps are cut free along two lateral edges and an outer edgeand are hingedly connected to said respective wall panels along theinner edge of each said end closure flap, said bottom wall panel endclosure flaps and said second top wall panel end closure flaps are eachfurther provided with an embossment disposed centrally of the lateraledges of said end closure flaps and adjacent said hinged connection, andsaid second side wall panel end closure flaps are provided with notchescorresponding in size to said embossments and located at each cornerformed by said lateral edges and said outer edges of said second sidewall end closure flaps.
 14. A carton as defined in claim 11 wherein saidhinged connection is along the inside edge of said closure flaps withthe two lateral edges and outside edge being free, said bottom wallpanel end closure flaps and said top wall panel end closure flaps beingprovided with outwardly projecting embossments disposed centrally ofsaid lateral edges of said closure flaps and adjacent said hingedconnections, and said second side wall panel end closure flaps areprovided with cutouts at their outer corners, said cutouts correspondingin size and position, when said second side wall panel end flaps arefolded in position to said embossments whereby, when said second sidewall end flaps are folded over said bottom wall and second top wall endflaps, said cutouts will partially surround said embossments.